Oxygen regulator



y 3, 1934- w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l HEM 4Sheets-Sheet 2w. GAERII'NER OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1951 May 8, 1934.

I I a y 1934- w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OXYGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 was:

May 8, 1934.

w. GAERTNER 1,957,951

OX YGEN REGULATOR Filed Nov. 6, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 of oxygen. Also 50sturdy.

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Patented May 8, 1934 1,957,951 OXYGEN REGULATOR I William Gaertner,Chicago, 111.,

Gaertner Scientific Corporation,

of Illinois Application November 6,

13Claima.

This invention-relates toimprovements in oxygen regulators, such-as areused by aviators and otherindividuals in need of an artificial supply ofoxygen or of a mixture of oxygen and other 5 gases, and in which thereis employed a sylphon or cylindrical, corrugated tube or .bellows ofthin metal from which the air has been exhausted to a pointcorresponding to about two inches of mercury. The tendency of thesylphon to collapse. at ordinary atmospheric pressure is 011'- set inpart by a spring which tends to hold the movable end of the sylphon awayend. Complete collapse is prevented by a stop inside the sylphon. Thespring is so adjusted that the free end of the sylphon is in equilibriumwhen subjected to a predetermined atmospheric pressure of aboutfifty-three (53) centimeters of mercury corresponding to an altitude often thousand (10,000) feet. As the atmospheric pressure decreases due toincreased altitude, outward movement of the sylphon end is communicatedto a valve by means of a lever and linkage system. Said valve is thusopened more and more as the altitude increases, permitting more oxy--gen to fiow from the supply tank to the low pressure outlet, the otherend of which is carried by the aviator to compensate for the decreasingoxygen supply. The operation of such a valve is very delicate, themaximum openingbeing only a few thousandths of an inch. With suchinstruments it is very important to maintain the proper flow of oxygenat all altitudes and pressures and temperatures within the availablerange, and to this end the instrument must not only be sensitive andconsistent in its action, but must also be rugged, unaifected by.vibration, compact in form, Those instruments heretofore used for thepurpose have not fulfilled these exacting requirements 40 duringcontinued service, due to the fact that a needle valve was employed,which it wasdiflicult to make self-alining, and in which the successiveimpressions made by the needle in the softer seat, caused undesirableinaccuracies in the flow it proved diiilcult, if not impos- 'the valveaccurately and per-' sible, to adjust manentlii.

The general object ofthe present invention is to provide an improvedinstrument, which is durable and compact in construction and able towithstand continuedvibration and to maintain predetermined flows ofoxygen at various difierent altitudes o'r pressures, and temperafrom thefixed cover removed.

light in weight, and durable two end castings,

- it-may .assignor to The a corporation 1931, Serial No. 513,363

relatively movable engaging parts of which consist of two accuratelyformed, flat,- polished, hard surfaces, one of which is self-aligning toinsure perfect contact of said surfaces.

Another object to provide an improved lever 39 and link mechanism whichis positive and uniform in its actions, winch isprotected from dust andother foreign matter, but which may, nevertheless, be readily adjustedto insure the proper operation over the entire predetermined range ofaltitudes or pressures.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionhereinafter given of a commercial embodiment of .the invention.

Inthe drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the instrument selected toillustrate the invention. "Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with theFig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on izontal plane.

' Fig. 5 is an end view with certain parts removed.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the coupling block connecting thelow pressure pipes with the valve chamber.

Fig. '7 is an elevation of the sylphon lever.

'Fig.- 8 is an elevation of a lever actuated thereby.

Fig. 9 is a front plate yoke. 1

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof. I

Fig. 11 is a section of a modified form of a valve.

Fig. 12 is an elevation partly in section of a I v further modification;I 1

The instrument, which in the preferred form illustrated, is only a fewinches long, is provided with a suitable base plate 10, and may be saidto consist of three un'ts; the sylphon unit, the lever and linkage unit,and the valve unit. The sylphon unit has an end piece or casting 11 (seeFigs. 2, 3 and 4) mounted on the base plate near one end, and the valveunit consists of a casting 12 mounted on the'other end. ese castings arep metal rods 13, 14, 15, and 16.

1'7 therefor, is mounted on the base between the all three of saidcastings being secured to the base by screws 18 or other suitablefastening means. The bracket 1'1 is also secured to the rods'13and 14 bysmall set screws 19. The sylphon unit consists essentially of astructure having certain walls thin and flexible so that respond readilyto relative variations in and without the same. In the a hor- 75elevation of the movable valve pressure within preferred form shown,designatedas a sylphon" it consists of a cylindrical, corrugated tube,one end being closed by the end casting 11 and the other by a plate 21,the latter being free to move in and out under variations in pressure.Other forms of pressure responsive devices may, however, be used. Theair is exhausted from the sylphon to a point within two inches ofmercury, and to prevent collapsing, a tube 22 is located inside thesame, against which the free end 21 is normally held by atmosphericpressure. Said free end has a yoke 23 thereon, through which passes ascrew 24, the reduced-end of which seats in a conical recess 25 in alever 26, shown also in Fig. 7. Said lever pivots about alined verticalpins 2'7 in the upper and lower ends of the bracket 17.

The spring 23 engages the free end of said lever 26, and has its otherend adjustably secured at 29, said spring tending to enlarge the sylphonagainst the action of the atmosphere, which tends to collapse it.

The lever 26 has a semi-cylindrical member 30 therein concentric withthe axis of rotation, said base 43 (see Fig. 10)

member having a recess 31 in line with an opening 32 therein. Another.opening 33 in said lever is provided to accommodate a springhereinafter described.

A link or pin 34 is arranged with one end. within recess 31 and-theother end within an adjustable thimble 35 received in an opening nearone end of a lever 36 and adjustable therein by means of a flange 37 andcapable of being locked in adjusted position by lock nut 38.

The lever 36, which is shown also in Fig. 8, is

pivoted at one end about the vertical pins 39, and

is normally drawn towards the sylphon by a spring 40, one end of whichis secured to the ad-- justable member 41 for regulating the tension.The pin 34, normally held under compression by spring 40, is almostcompletely enclosed by the adjacent parts, shown in Fig. 4. When the.lever 26 rocks about its pivotal support, pin 34 is given a slightlongitudinal movement which communicates to the lever 36. Said levercarries a flexible diaphragm 42 which is clamped between it and thecircular base 43 of a yoke with a lead washer 44 interposed between saidbase 43 and said diaphragir A screw threaded extension 45 on saidprojects through an opening in said lever, the parts being clamped inplace by nut 46. Said diaphragm is clamped at its periphery against thethreaded end 47 of the casting 12; with a lead washer 48 interposed, bymeans of the nut 49. A pin 50 on the lever 36 enters a hole in the base43 to properly position the latter in assembling the parts.

-.The yoke, in addition to the circular base 43, consists of a pair ofextensions 51, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the ends thereof being finishedin a plane inclined with reference to the plane of the base. 'A bridgingmember '52 (Fig. 5) is secured to the uprights 51 by suitable screws 53,and has a central boss 54 thereon with a recess (Fig. 4) which receivesa ball 55 which is made preferably of stainless steel, and has anaccurate, flat, polished surface cut thereon or made of the same or.

of the same or of other suitable material fas-.

containing a wire mesh strainer tened thereto, said stud being mountedin apart. 59, integral with the casting 12. In order to assurecontinuous and accurate operation of the valve theflat surface 56somewhat softer than the surface on the ball, "and is also slightlysmaller in order to prevent the possibility of indentation ordeformation 'of either surface of such a character as might causeleakage. The relative arrangement of the surfaces may also be reversed,but in general the larger polished area should be the harder.

The opening 57 in screw 58 permits communication thru channel 61 tooxygen or gas pressure connection 62. The pressure gauge with dial 63 isalso in communication with the oxygen supply connection 62 thru theconnecting pipe 64. See Fig. 2.

The flexible diaphragm 42 (Fig. 4) insures a gas-tight connection at oneendof the chamber in casting 12, the other end being closed by a disc 65held against a gasket 66 by a nut'67. Said chamber containing the oxygenunder reduced pressure connects through the two orifices 68 and 69 shownin Fig. 5, with the pipes 70 and 71 leading to the feed cook 72, whichallows the proper supply of oxygen for either one 'or two men. Tube 71may be opened or closed by the rotation of the handle 73, leavingthetube 70 always open. Thus the proper amount of oxygen may be emittedfor either one or two persons through a flexible tube which fits on theend of said feed cock. r

A cbupling 74' including nut 75 connects directly to the high pressureline, said coupling 76 to prevent foreign particles from passing throughthe valve.

The parts are enclosed in a suitable casing 77,

which, with the base plate, forms a dust and weather proof enclosure.

The instrument is so adjusted that when it is subjected to atatmospheric pressure of about fifty-three (53) centimeters of mercury orat an altitude of ten thousand (10,000) feet, the free is made of amaterial end of the sylphon is in equilibrium. Any decrease inatmospheric pressure due to an altitude higher than ten thousand(10,000) feet will result in an elongation of the sylphon due to thepressure .in the sylphon and the 28 which will move the link mechanismheretoaction of spring fore described in such a way as to permit the1'25 valve ball 55 to be lifted slightly from its seat by the pressureof the oxygen ing 5'7 beneath it.

The oxygen flowing through the valve between the closely adjacentparallel surfaces thereof is confined within said chamber, thus buildingup a pressure and tending to force the diaphragm 42 outwardly. Thispressure disturbs the equilibrium between the sylphon and trolled lever26 and associated result that said sylphon tends to compress-slightlyand the ball 55 tends to decrease the size of the ppening, thusdecreasing the internal pressure.

The result of these opposing forces is that a constant low pressure ismaintained in said chamber. The valve works with great exactitudeabdwithout the possibility of being affected by dust or other foreignparticles, as the gas escapes radially at high velocity fromthe end ofthe opening 57 beneath the ball, and thus maintains the adjacentsurfaces clean and bright.

Fig. 11 illustrates .a modified form of valvein the spring conto thatpreviously described, the port 81 being parts, -with the in the centralopening with reference a block of metal 82 having a flat, hard surfaceand having a spherical recess within which the ball 83 is gripped. Saidball is backed by a movable member 84 having a conical recess therein,which permits the movable valve member to be self-aligning.

In the further modified form of valve shown in Fig. 12, a; universaljoint 85 is provided whereby the movable valve part 86 may seat itselfproperly against 'All the forms of valves described herein consist oftwo perfectly flat, polished surfaces,-either of a hard metal such metalwith a hard plated surface, or a metal surface and a jewel, or acombination of any or similar ones. These valves operate with extremeaccuracy and with great refinement of regulation, as will be appreciatedfrom the fact that the movable surface has, in the commercial form oftheinstrument, a maximum clearance from the stationary valve member ofless than two thousandths (.002) of an inch.

Although the instrument is described as an oxygen regulator, it may ofcourse be used for regulating the flow of other gases. Furthermore,various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the partsdescribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: I

1. An oxygen regulator comprising a chamber having a flexible wall, avalve within said chamber having a stationary part with a flat face anda port therein communicating with an opening through another wall ofsaid chamber, a movable part having a fiat face, a backing for saidmovable part, mounted on said flexible wall and providing a universalconnection whereby said movable part is self aligning with reference tosaid stationary part, and a pressure responsive device outside of saidchamber, having link connections with said flexible wall.

2. An oxygen regulator comprising a valve having a stationary part witha flat face and a port therein, a movable part having a flat face, abacking providing a universal connection for said movable part wherebythe latter is self aligning with reference to said stationary part, apressure re-- sponsive device, a lever actuated thereby, a spring tomodify the action of said pressure responsive device at varyingaltitudes, a second lever mechanically connected to said spring tendingto link between said levers.

3. An oxygen regulator comprising a valve having a stationary part witha port therein, a movable .part having a flat face, a backing providinga universal connection for said movable part whereby the latter is selfalignto said stationary part, an enclosure for said valve, one wall ofwhich is flexible, mechanical connections from said wall to said selfaligning valve part, an adjustable socket associated with said wall, aspring biasing said flexible wall in a direction to close said valve, alever, a loose link therefrom to saidadjustable socket, a springassociated with saidlever and a sylphon controlling the action of saidlever.

4.-In an, oxygen regulator, a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, avalve in said chamber having a minute range of movement for accuratelycontrolling the flow of oxygen through said ports, a pressure responsivedevice outside of said chamber and mechanical connections bethe end ofthe stationary member 8'1.-

hormally impelled as steel or stellite, or a softjections on whichmovable valve part, a holdsaid valve closed, and a,

flat face and a ary .part

tweensaid device and said valve,- including two levers normally impelledtoward each other, a

socket associated with each lever, ing its ends enclosed in said socketsand maintained under compression.

5. In an oxygen regulator, a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, avalve in said chamber having a minute range of movement for accuratelycontrolling the flow of oxygen through said ports, a pressure responsivedevice outside of said chamber and mechanical connections between saiddevice and said valve, including ,two levers able thimble near membercoincident said other lever and a pin confined at its ends the free endof one lever, a with the axis of rotation of having a socket therein,and in said socket and said thimble.

6. Means for regulating the flow of oxygen and other gases, comprising astationary member having an opening therein with a hard flat surface anda pin havtoward each other, an adiustsurrounding said opening, a ballhaving a flat surface thereon adjacent said other surface and of a sizesufficient to extend beyond the periphery of the same and made ofmaterial harder than said other surfacega transversev member having aconical recess for said ball, a yoke having prov said transverse memberis supported and a chamber in which said parts are enclosed, saidchamber having a flexible wall on which said yoke is mounte 7. In adevice of the class described, a chamberhaving a flexible wall, a platesecured to said wall and having arms thereon, a bridging member securedto said projection and having a recess therein, a member projectinginwardly from another wall of said chamber to a point between -saidarms, having an opening therethrough constituting an inlet port andwhich connects at the inner end thereof with a flat surface constitutinga valve seat, and a ball in said recess with a flat surface engagingsaid other flat surface whereby inward movement of said flexible wallwill enable said ball to be lifted from escape into said chamber offluid under pressure from between said surfaces. d

8. In a device of the class described, a chamits seat to permit the berhaving a flexible wall, a plate securedto said wall and having armsthereon with end surfaces inclined with respect to said wall, a bridgingmember secured to said projections and having a recess therein and aball in said recess, a stationary member in said chamber with a ducttherethrough, a hard flat surface on said member surrounding the end ofsaid duct, constituting a valve seat and in a plane parallel to saidinclined end surfaces, said ball having a hard flat surface normallypressed against said other hard flat surfaces and being movable in saidrecess to make it self aligning with respect to said seat. I

9. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamberhaving a flexible wall,.a valve within said chamber comprising astationhaving a flat face and mounted on another wall of said chamber,with a port therein communicating with a supply of gas through anopening in said wall, a movable part having a flat face to engage acorresponding face on said stationary part and having a rounded rearportion,

' airtight Walls ,outlet for said gasthrough a wall of said chamber anda pressure responsive device outside of said chamber for causingmovement of said lever.

10. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamberhaving a flexible wall, a valve said chamber comprising a stationarypart having a flat face and mounted on another wall of said chamber,with a port therein communicating with a supply of gas through anopening in said wall, a movable part having a flat face to engage acorresponding face on said stationary part and having a rounded rearportion, means mounted wholly on said flexible wall and having a recesstherein in alignment with said port to receive said rounded portion andrender said valve parts self aligning, a lever connected to the outsideof said flexible wall for moving the latter and thus separating saidvalve facesfor regulating the flow of gas into said chamber, an outletfor said gas through a wall of said chamber, a closure on 'de of saidchamber having flexible to maintain a partial vacuum in said closure andmechanical connections from a flexible wall tween said valve faces. v

'ary part having a flat face 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 inwhich saidmechanical connections reduce the movement transmitted to said flexibleregulation of said valve.

12. Apparatus for regulating the flow of gases comprising a chamberhaving a flexible wall, a valve within said chamber comprising astationand mounted on with a port therein 01' gas through an anotherwall of said chamber, communicating with a supply wall, to insure a veryclose opening in said wall, a movable part having a flat 'face to engagea corresponding face on said starounded rear portion,-

tionary part and having a means mounted wholly on said flexible wall andhaving a recess therein in. alignment with said port to receive saidrounded portion and render said valve parts self a lever pivoted outsideof said chamber and connected to said flexible 7 wall to move the latterand thus separate said engaging valve faces, the plane of said engagingfaces being at an angle to the plane of said flexible wall and passingthrough the pivotal support for said lever. 1'

- 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 with the addition of a pressureresponsive device and a motion reducing linkage connecting the same tosaid flexible wall. r

- WILLIAM GAERINER.

